Norman Schwarzkopf‘s impressive military career spanned over three decades and the Vietnam War veteran was known for his no-nonsense and can-do attitude, earning him the nickname, “Stormin’ Norman.”

He commanded more than 540,000 U.S. troops and 200,000 allied forces in the six-week war, a feat that has some hailing his plan to trick and capture Hussein’s forces as one of the greatest accomplishments in military history.

Politicians are mourning the death of a friend and a legend:

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, who built the international coalition against Iraq after the invasion of Kuwait, said he and his wife “mourn the loss of a true American patriot and one of the great military leaders of his generation,” according to a statement released by his spokesman.